11-20-2021, 07:39 AM
OK so I have managed to get Web Skype (https://web.skype.com) to work with a PinePhone. The PinePhone appears to be fast enough to work with video chat with a Trust 640x480 resolution webcam for outgoing video and HD video incoming from a low end Android smartphone. This is over a slow 4G internet connection.
To get it to work with video and sound I had to install the Vivaldi browser and connect an external keyboard with trackpad and an external USB webcam via the PinePhone USB-C dongle.
After connecting up the required hardware and installing Vivaldi, open Vivialdi on the PinePhone and go to web.skype.com. Log in with Skype account A. On another device log into Skype (web or client) using account B.
Call the PinePhone from the other device (account B) using the video chat button. When the call is picked up by the PinePhone (it can take a while before it responds to the incoming Skype call and it takes a while pick up the call after you have clicked on the video chat icon) you have to click on a tiny icon in the address field of Vivaldi to allow access to the microphone. If you are lucky then the icon allowing you to grant access to the external USB webcam will appear at the same time. When both are clicked then you should end up in a video chat with the other device.
I was unable to get these icons to respond to clicks on the touchscreen on the PinePhone hence use of the external keyboard/trackpad. A USB mouse would probably be sufficient for the two clicks. Vivaldi appears to remember the settings if the USB webcam remains connected and the phone or browser are restarted.
If you cannot get the external USB webcam recognised at first and the mic is working, stay in the call and click on the three dots menu at the bottom right hand side of the video chat window. You should be able to go to the Video and Sound settings and if you are lucky then you can select the external USB webcam there. Rinse and repeat if it doesn't work first time.
So, as the PinePhone is fast enough for video chat it is worth trying to solve the next problem. Can I get this working with either of the built in cameras on the PinePhone, preferably the on that faces you when you are looking at the screen?
According to "Settings --> Privacy --> Camera" on the PinePhone nothing has asked to use the onboard cameras. Same for the onboard microphone. Is this a driver issue? Config issue? Any known workarounds?
The version of Mobian I am using is a build from about two weeks ago, running off an SD card.
To get it to work with video and sound I had to install the Vivaldi browser and connect an external keyboard with trackpad and an external USB webcam via the PinePhone USB-C dongle.
After connecting up the required hardware and installing Vivaldi, open Vivialdi on the PinePhone and go to web.skype.com. Log in with Skype account A. On another device log into Skype (web or client) using account B.
Call the PinePhone from the other device (account B) using the video chat button. When the call is picked up by the PinePhone (it can take a while before it responds to the incoming Skype call and it takes a while pick up the call after you have clicked on the video chat icon) you have to click on a tiny icon in the address field of Vivaldi to allow access to the microphone. If you are lucky then the icon allowing you to grant access to the external USB webcam will appear at the same time. When both are clicked then you should end up in a video chat with the other device.
I was unable to get these icons to respond to clicks on the touchscreen on the PinePhone hence use of the external keyboard/trackpad. A USB mouse would probably be sufficient for the two clicks. Vivaldi appears to remember the settings if the USB webcam remains connected and the phone or browser are restarted.
If you cannot get the external USB webcam recognised at first and the mic is working, stay in the call and click on the three dots menu at the bottom right hand side of the video chat window. You should be able to go to the Video and Sound settings and if you are lucky then you can select the external USB webcam there. Rinse and repeat if it doesn't work first time.
So, as the PinePhone is fast enough for video chat it is worth trying to solve the next problem. Can I get this working with either of the built in cameras on the PinePhone, preferably the on that faces you when you are looking at the screen?
According to "Settings --> Privacy --> Camera" on the PinePhone nothing has asked to use the onboard cameras. Same for the onboard microphone. Is this a driver issue? Config issue? Any known workarounds?
The version of Mobian I am using is a build from about two weeks ago, running off an SD card.